Abuelo, the Sea, and Me

Abuelo, the Sea, and Me is a tender, heartwarming picture book that vividly explores intergenerational connections, family history, and the immigrant experience.

When this grandchild visits her abuelo, he takes her to the ocean. In summer, they kick off their shoes and let the cool waves tickle their toes. In winter, they stand on the cliff and let the sea spray prick their noses and cheeks. No matter the season, hot or cold, their favorite place to spend time together is the beach.

It’s here that Abuelo is able to open up about his youth in Havana, Cuba. As they walk along the sand, he recalls the tastes, sounds, and smells of his childhood. And with his words, Cuba comes alive for his grandchild.

Ismée Williams is the award-winning author of the young adult novels Water in May and This Train Is Being Held, a Junior Library Guild Selection, the winner of an International Latino Book Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and a coeditor of the anthology Boundless: Twenty Voices Celebrating Multicultural and Multiracial Identities. Ismée is a cofounder of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival, as well as a pediatric cardiologist in New York City, where she lives with her family. She is the daughter of a Cuban immigrant and grew up listening

Tatiana Gardel is a Brazilian-born illustrator whose work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators in New York and by American Illustration. Her art is inspired by her culture, by her love for nature, and by mythology and childhood memories. She is a co -founder of #LatinxPitch and teaches animation to young artists at the Harlem School of the Arts. Tatiana Gardel lives in New York City with her family.